Pallet fastener

Abstract

A two-part fastener made of resilient material is disclosed as comprising two identical mating fastening devices. Each fastening device is constructed with a circular disc head integrally formed with a shank. The shank has an elongate symmetrically-shaped body having a longitudinal central axis and is formed with a pair of leg members disposed along the central axis in diametrically opposed spaced apart relation. Each leg member is formed by two wall elements molded together in a V-shaped configuration wth the outer end portion laterally spaced apart from the adjoining leg member a distance sufficient to embracingly receive the pair of leg members of the identical fastening device. When the identical fastening devices are brought together in a nesting relationship, they are locked together by virtue of the interlocking cooperating relationship of a plurality of tooth formations formed on one of the two V-shaped wall elements of each leg member.

I claim: 
     
       1. A two-part fastener made of resilient material comprising a pair of identical fastening devices, each of said fastening devices including a head and shank, said shank having an elongate symmetrically-shaped body having a longitudinal central axis, said shank intergally formed at one end with said head in a normal relation to said longitudinal axis, said shank including a pair of leg members disposed along said longitudinal axis in diametrically opposed relation to each other, each of said leg members having two relatively thin planar wall elements joined together along there radial inward edge and angularly disposed in a V-shaped configuration, the outer end portion of said leg members spaced apart laterally a distance sufficient to embracingly receive the pair of leg members of said identical fastener, and a plurality of tooth formations pointing in the direction of said head from the outer wall surface of one of said two V-shaped wall elements for each of said leg members, the projection of said tooth formations from said outer wall surface being selected to cause the plurality of mating teeth to ratcher together in an interlocking relation as said pair of identical fastening devices are brought together such that the portion of each of said one of said thin planar wall elements which carry said plurality of tooth formations flex in a circumferential direction during the ratcheting action. 
     
     
       2. A two-part fastener as defined in claim 1, further comprising ramp means on the outer end of said pair of leg members for guiding said pair of fastening devices into a predetermined angular orientation about said longitudinal axis with respect to each other as said pair of fastening devices are brought together. 
     
     
       3. A two-part fastener as defined in claim 1, wherein said shank for each of said fastening devices further comprises a panel mounting portion between said head and said pair of leg members, said panel mounting portion comprising a plurality of radially extending ribs interconnected by a plurality of spaced circular discs. 
     
     
       4. A two-part fastener as defined in claim 3, wherein each of said panel mounting portions comprises a plurality of tooth formations pointing in the direction of said head formed on the outer edge of said radially extending ribs. 
     
     
       5. A two-part fastener as defined in claim 1, further comprising guide means on each of said pair of leg members for providing a rotational motion of said pair of fastening devices towards each other to cause said plurality of tooth formations of one fastening device to firmly engage with said plurality of tooth formations of the other fastening device as said pair of fastening devices are brought together. 
     
     
       6. A two-part fastener made of resilient material comprising a pair of identical fastening devices, each of said fastening devices including a head and shank, said shank having an elongate symmetrically-shaped body having a longitudinal central axis, said shank integrally formed at one end with said head in a normal relation to said longitudinal axis, said shank including a pair of leg members disposed along said longitudinal axis in diametrically opposed relation to each other, each of said leg members having two wall elements joined together along their radial inward edge and angularly disposed in a V-shaped cofiguration, the outer end portion of said leg members spaced apart laterally a distance sufficient to embracingly receive the pair of leg members of said identical fastener, a plurality of tooth formations pointing in the direction of said head from the outer wall surface of one of said two V-shaped wall elements for each of said leg members, and ramp means on the outer end of said pair of leg members for guiding said pair of fastening devices into a predetermined angular orientation about said longitudinal axis with respect to each other as said pair of fastening devices are brought together, said ramp means including a ramp surface formed across the outer end of said two V-shaped wall elements of each of said pair of leg members, said ramp surface sloping towards said longitudinal central axis and towards said one of said two V-shaped wall elements of the other of said leg members. 
     
     
       7. A two-part fastener made of resilient material comprising a pair of identical fastening devices, each of said fastening devices including a head and shank, said shank having an elongate symmetrically-shaped body having a longitudinal central axis, said shank integrally formed at one end with said head in a normal relation to said longitudinal axis, said shank including a pair of leg members disposed along said longitudinal axis in diametrically opposed relation to each other, each of said leg members having two wall elements joined together along their radial inward edge and angularly disposed in a V-shaped configuration, the outer end portion of said leg members spaced apart laterally a distance sufficient to embracingly receive the pair of leg members of said identical fastener, a plurality of tooth formations pointing in the direction of said head from the outer wall surface of one of said two V-shaped wall elements for each of said leg members, and guide means on each of said pair of leg members for providing a rotational motion of said pair of fastening devices towards each other to cause said plurality of tooth formations of one fastening device to firmly engage with said plurality of tooth formations of the other fastening device as said pair of fastening devices are brought together, said guide means on each of said pair of leg members including a raised shoulder portion on the outer wall surface of the other of said two V-shaped wall elements that axially extend towards said head from the inner margin of said plurality of tooth formations. 
     
     
       8. A two-part fastener made of resilient material comprising a pair of identical fastening devices, each of said fastening devices including a head and shank, said shank having an elongate symmetrically-shaped body having a longitudinal central axis, said shank integrally formed at one end with said head in a normal relation to said longitudinal axis, said shank including a pair of leg members disposed along said longitudinal axis in diametrically oppposed relation to each other, each of said leg members having two wall elements joined together along their radial inward edge and angularly disposed in a V-shaped configuration, a raised ledge portion extending longitudinally on the outer wall surface of one of said two V-shaped wall elements for each of said leg members and adjacent to said radial inward edge, the outer end portion of said leg members spaced apart laterally from each other a distance sufficient to embracingly receive the pair of leg members of said identical fastener and a plurality of tooth formations pointing in the direction of said head being integrally formed parallel to said raised ledge portion on said outer wall surface of said one of said two V-shaped wall elements for each of said leg members. 
     
     
       9. A two-part fastener as defined in claim 8, further comprising ramp means on the outer end of said pair of leg members for guiding said pair of fastening devices into a predetermined angular orientation about said longitudinal axis with respect to each other as said pair of fastening devices are brought together. 
     
     
       10. A two-part fastener as defined in claim 9, wherein said ramp means comprises a ramp surface formed across the outer end of said two V-shaped wall elements of each of said pair of leg members, said ramp surface sloping towards said longitudinal central axis and towards said one of said two V-shaped wall elements of the other of said leg members. 
     
     
       11. A two-part fastener as defined in claim 8, wherein said shank for each of said fastening devices further comprises a panel mounting portion between said head and said pair of leg members, said panel mounting portion comprising a plurality of radially extending ribs interconnected by a plurality of spaced circular discs, and wherein said head comprises a thin circular disc-shaped member substantially larger in diameter than said plurality of spaced circulr discs and integrally formed with said plurality of radially extending ribs. 
     
     
       12. A two-part fastener as defined in claim 11, wherein each of said panel mounting portions comprises a plurality of tooth formations pointing in the direction of said head formed on the outer edge of said radially extending ribs. 
     
     
       13. A two-part fastener as defined in claim 8, further comprising guide means on each of said pair of leg members for providing a rotational motion of said pair of fastening devices towards each other to cause said plurality of tooth formations of one fastening device to firmly engage with said plurality of tooth formations of the other fastening device as said pair of fastening devices are brought together. 
     
     
       14. A two-part fastener as defined in claim 13, wherein said guide means on each of said pair of leg members comprises a raised thickened portion on the outer wall surface of the other of said two V-shaped wall elements that axially extends towards said head from the inner margin of said plurality of tooth formations.